Device for drying hair



Feb. 6, 1940., R. A, MCCLURE 2,189,430

DEVICE FOR DRYING HAIR Filed March 20, 1937 CoOooooo'ocpooooo 22 @$.10 z5 f @zito/H655 Patented Feb. 6, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for drying the hair of human beings after a shampoo or beauty treatment in barber and beauty shops and the like and giving it a. wave and set.

The primary object of the invention is to create a ow of air through the layers of hair from the scalp out, either by suction or by pressure of air, delivered in either case through perforated members introduced next to the scalp under the hair layers to be dried.

A further object is to provide an apparatus that can be changed from air suction to pressure, or the reverse, at any time at the will of the operator.

The object also is to provide a safe, inexpensive, easily operated and durable apparatus for drying hair.

I accomplish the above, and other objects, which will hereinafter appear and be pointed out in the claims by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l shows my invention, more or less diagrammatically, and in use for drying a Womans hair, parts being broken away and in vertical section for greater clearness of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of one form of air nozzle to be introduced under layers of hair to be dried;

Fig. 3 is an outer side elevation of the nozzle shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the lines 4-4 of Figs. 2 and 3, on a larger scale;

Fig. 5 is a modied form of nozzle particularly adapted for retaining a layer of hair wound upon it preliminary to drying;

Fig. 6 is a cross section on the line 6-6 of 5;

Figs. 7 and 8 are plan and inner side elevation, respectively, of short nozzle similar to that shown in Figs. 2 and 3; and

Figs. 9 and 10 are an elevation and plan respectively of a modied form having a plurality of integrally connected nozzles.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views of the drawing.

My drier is preferably used with a hood II, of any of the Well known forms now in common use, which has an outside imperforate wall I3 and an inside wall I4 spaced from the outside one forming a chamber I5 between them. The hood is drawn down over the hair to be dried, in the manner shown in Fig. 1, and air is supplied under pressure to the chamber through the hollow stand-pipe I6. The stand-pipe serves also as a support for the hood II and is preferably in telescoping parts to provide an adjustment in the height of the hood. The air fills the chamber I5 and is preferably warm for comfort to the customer and to speed up the drying operation.

The inside wall I4 has a large number of holes Il suitably spaced for equal air delivery to all parts of thev hair.

As thus far described the hood and air supply to the hair is old and to this well known hood I add a tube I8 which encircles the hood at its mouth in a continuous ring. The interior of the tube I8 is exhausted or supplied with air under pressure at the will of the operator by means which will be presently described.

spaced apart around the tube I8 are holes, each leading into a nozzle I 9 for the application thereto of a tube 2 I, preferably of rubber or other flexible material. These nozzles I9 are each provided with a cock 2B by which they may be individually closed when not in use. To the other end of tube 2| a relatively elongated and thin nozzle 22 is attached. The nozzle 22 is preferably formed out of indurated liber, hard rubber, or other suitable material that will hold a given shape and be strong enough to stand insertion under the layers of the hair and close to the scalp.

As the contour of the human scalp is curved nozzles of any considerable length will be curved longitudinally to conform. The nozzle is hollow, except at its outer end which is closed and suciently pointed to facilitate the entrance of the nozzle through and under the layers of the hair. The nozzle is provided with a spring-bar 24, riveted or otherwise attached at one end of the bar, to act as a clamp in holding the nozzle 22 at any given position in the hair.

Preferably the nozzle is flattened as shown in the cross section Fig. 4, and it is formed with perforations 25 on all sides of the nozzle except the side next to the scalp.

Relatively short nozzles 22 shown in Figs. 7 and 8 are more convenient than the long ones of Figs. 2 and 3 at some places where the scalp curves on a short radius.

For tight curls at the ends of the folds a cylindrical nozzle 22", such as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 are used upon which the hair is wound and held by a clamp wire 21, of U-shape with the cross-bar threaded through the nozzle and thereby hinged to fold the stems parallel against the nozzle, and the ends of the loop are twisted together and the loop clamps the hair to the nozzle. These clamps are allowed to hold the curls until the hair is dry.

In the modification shown in Figs. 9 and l0, a plurality of nozzles, here shown as four but the number may be more or less, are carried by a single rubber tube. Ordinarily these plurality of nozzles act like the teeth of a comb to hold them in place by friction without the need of other clamping means, but if not, the clamp bar -shown and described for the single nozzles may 'I'he pipe 29 has a control valve 34, and the fan discharges under pressure through the pipe 35 which is controlled by the valve 36. A pipe 31 connects with the pipe 35 and the other end of pipe 31 connects with the pipe 29 and is opened and closed by a hand valve 38.

By opening valves 34 and 36 and closing valves 33 and 38 the fan 3| will cause suction in the tube I8 with the result that air in the hood supplied through holes II will be drawn through the folds of hair to the nozzles connected with tube I 8.

Again, by closing valves 34 and 36, and opening valves 33 and 38 air under pressure from fan 3| will discharge into the pipe I8 and from thence through the tubes 2| to the nozzles in the hair.

Where it is desired to warm the air discharged to pipe I8, an electrical resistance 40 is installed in the circuit of pipe 31.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, hence I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

I claim:

1. In a hair drier, a plurality of nozzles reaching all of the hair, each nozzle being of relatively great length and small diameter for easy insertion through folds of hair to a position under the folds close to the scalp, said nozzles` havinga plurality of openings, a clamp for each nozzle attached at its inner end to the inner end of its nozzle, a rotary fan having a tubular air intake and a tubular discharge connection, tubular connections between the intake of the fan and the nozzles, tubular connections between the discharge of the fan and the rst tubular connections and valves in all of said tubular connection for opening and closing the connections to selectively cause suction or pressure of air in said nozzles.

2. In a device for drying hair on the human head, a hood surrounding the hair to be dried comprising an outer and an inner wall separated by an air space, means for supplying air under pressure to the air space, the inner wall having a plurality of holes for the discharge of air from the space, a tube encircling the hood at the mouth of the hood, nozzles leading from the tube, a flexible tube attached to each nozzle and an elongatedV and thin hollow perforated finger in the outer end of the tube from the first nozzle for insertion in layers of the hair and spring-bar clamps attached to the inner ends of the ngers.

3. 'I'he method of treating hair which comprises discharging air under pressure in jets simultaneously distributed uniformly over all of the hair against the hair in an enclosed space, and, creating suction under layers of hair simultaneously under all of the hair to draw the air through the layers and Withdraw the air.

4. In a hair drier, a nozzle of relatively great length and small diameter adapting it for easy insertion through folds of hair to a position under the folds close to the scalp, said nozzle having a plurality of openings, from a hollow interior, through its walls, means to produce a suction of drying medium into the nozzle through said openings, said nozzle being closed at the inserted'end, and a clamp attached at its inner end to the inner end of the nozzle to fasten the nozzle to the hair without obstructing the openings.

5. In a hair drier, a nozzle of relatively great length and small diameter adapting it for easy insertion through folds of hair to a position under the folds close to the scalp, said nozzle having a plurality of openings from a hollow interior through its walls, means to produce iiow of drying medium through said nozzle and said openings, said nozzle being closed at the inserted end, and a clamp attached at its inner end to the inner end of the nozzle to fasten the nozzle to the hair without obstructing the openings.

6. In a hair drier, a nozzle of relatively grea length and small diameter adapting it for easy insertion through folds of hair to a position under the folds close to the scalp, said nozzle having a plurality of openings from a hollow interior through its Walls, and said nozzle being closed and pointed at the outer inserting end, a clamp bar attached at its inner end to the inner end of said nozzle Without obstructing the openings as a means of fastening the nozzle to the hair, and a hose connecting nipple extending from said nozzle interior end.

ROBERT A. MCCLURE. 

